Garden Party: The Endless Summer
There is a whole list of practical things you have to do when you learn that you are moving across the state. We did none of those things and instead took a few days to hype ourselves up about the move. We made tacos from scratch, drank fresh margaritas, and watched the two most appropriate movies to watch when you learn that you are moving to San Diego: Anchorman (2004) and The Endless Summer (1966).
The Endless Summer is an iconic surf documentary film which follows the world-wide travels of Robert August and Mike Hynson as they search for “the perfect wave”. (Anchorman needs no explanation.) The Endless Summer is like a rose-tinted window into a world that seems like it could only exist in the daydreams of people who live with sunshine beneath their skin. It is pure adventure, pure easy-going bliss.
It wasn’t until we had already signed the lease on our new place that our landlord dropped a serendipitous piece of information. He said, “Oh, by the way. Do you guys know about Mike Hynson? Well, you’re moving into his old place.” We laughed in total disbelief and asked our landlord to repeat that a couple times just to makes sure he wasn’t kidding. Our little 100+ year old surf cottage was the home of Mr. Endless Summer. The kid who looked out at the world and saw an endless sea of fun and sun.
Sometimes, the universe just resonates with your wavelength and all you can do is forget questioning and simply go with it.
We can’t wait to host a real garden party in our new place once it is safe to gather people. In the meantime, we are testing out some recipes and putting together the perfect playlist.
Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Shrimp Over Savory Watermelon Salad
(from Jamie Oliver)
Watermelon Salad
Chop up the following finely: Jalapeño pepper, red chili pepper, parsley, mint.
Mix that up with olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice.
Cube the following into bite-size chunks: Watermelon, Cucumber, “drunken” red-wine goat cheese.
Mix everything together with chopped spring onion and red onion (Use your hands, it’s fun!)
Bacon-wrapped Shrimp
Chop and mash together the following: garlic, mint, parsley.
Add some olive oil and lemon juice then salt, pepper, and spice (chili powder) as you like.
Marinade the shrimp for a little while.
Wrap up the shrimp in bacon (or omit this step if you wish) and skewer.
Heat up the grill and sizzle the skewers until he bacon is crispy golden brown.
Best enjoyed outdoors, surrounded by music and the sounds of friends laughing, while holding the taste of endless summer in a bottle in your hand.
* A note from Travis and Jess: Garden Party is the first brew that we completed in our new home. However, we had started it back in Pacifica. The brew was in the middle of primary fermentation, bubbling away in a 5 gallon glass carboy, when we realized that we wouldn’t have time to bottle it up before U-hauling down to San Diego. The morning of the move was strange. The apartment echoed in a way we had never heard before and the only things left in there were ourselves, our memories, and a mid-fermentation beer. We strapped the carboy into the front seat of the U-haul where it gently splashed around and enjoyed the 10 hour ride. Garden Party turned out to be like the refreshing iced-tea cousin of beer - honey, lemon, earthy, sweet, tangy, with a sunlight finish.
